FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Florida Gulf Coast University women's soccer program and 17^th-year head coach Jim Blankenship unveiled the 2023 schedule Wednesday.

"We're filled with excitement for the upcoming season and the chance to defend our title," coach Blankenship said. "The schedule is packed with exciting challenges that will help us grow and hopefully lead to another successful run in the ASUN Tournament."

The Eagles open the season with four straight home matches beginning Aug. 17 versus Big Ten opponent University of Iowa at 7 p.m.

FGCU also hosts University of Arkansas at Little Rock (Aug. 20), Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (Aug. 24) and University of South Florida (Aug. 27) at Pickering Field before its first road stretch. In all, the Green & Blue will have nine opportunities to protect The Nest.

The Green & Blue will then head north to embark on a five-match road test beginning with two matches in North Carolina, at High Point University (Aug. 31) and Appalachian State University (Sept. 3). Blankenship's squad travels back to the Sunshine State for Florida Atlantic University and Florida International University and opens ASUN Conference play at the University of North Florida on Sept. 14.

FGCU hosts five ASUN opponents in 2023: Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Queens University of Charlotte, Austin Peay State University and Lipscomb University. The Eagles' home ASUN opener is Sept. 17 versus Jacksonville at 1 p.m.

The Green & Blue finish the season with a trio of road matches at Bellarmine University, Eastern Kentucky University and Stetson University.

Last season, the Eagles clinched their seventh NCAA Tournament berth and for the first time since 2017, outlasting Liberty University in penalty kicks 4-3 in the ASUN Championship.

FGCU returns 14 players from its (12-6-2, 8-1-1 ASUN) championship season, including the ASUN Freshman of the Year Erika Zschuppe.

ASUN First Team honoree Ashley Labbe, ASUN Third Team member Katelyn Kauffman and ASUN All-Freshman Nellie Nygren also return to The Nest. Nygren scored the 2022 ASUN Championship-winning penalty kick.

For the complete schedule and match times, please visit FGCUAthletics.com. For tickets, please visit the FGCU Ticket Office at FGCUTickets.com.